'66 Capistrano -- 1st. George Royal, 2nd.Hill Rise, 3rd???

[Jorge]

There is a historical photo-finish picture of the
1966 San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap
won by George Royal, under Johnny Longden,
on what became his last race as a jockey.
The mighty Hill Rise was the rival who arrived on
second place, a nose behind.

My question is related to the grey horse who
arrived third in the photo. Said grey can be seen
"really flying" at the end of the race on a video
at "youtube" (Pathe). Who was that gray horse?

Thanks in advance for your help.

(p.s. George Royal had also won the 1965 edition
of that race but this time he was off his heydays,
same as Johnny Longden.)

[Jorge]

1966 San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap photo:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/JOHNNY-JOHN-LONG ... LYf(sPBP57)BMe5g~~60_35.JPG

1966 San Juan Capistrano video:
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/jocke ... ry/Arcadia

[Georgerz]

The gray horse I believe it was Tom Cat. But i think that the second in the 1966 San juan Capistrano was Plaque. Hill Rise came in third in the 1965 race.

[Georgerz]

Here is the pedigree of Tom Cat:

http://www.pedigreequery.com/tom+cat

[Jorge]

Georgerz,

Thank you so much for your very valuable assistance.
Thanks to your hint I was able to research on Tom Cat
and apparently he is the one. I should have known better
for Tom Cat was the sire of the superb sprinter (up to 7 furlongs)
and record setter, El Gato.

PR-bred El Gato (Chestnut h 1970) by Tom Cat –Tirzah, by Roman
http://www.pedigreequery.com/el+gato
was imported in utero from the Mainland. Quite interesting to acknowledge that as a runner Tom Cat was more of a stamina horse than a speed oriented runner like his son.

Thanks again for your assistance. The early 60s were the days when witnessing a talented grey runner was still in infancy stage, albeit the boom was about to blossom thanks to Mahmoud, not that much Native Dancer, nor Determine.

[Patuxet]

Tom Cat was owned by CV Whitney who bred him to his mare Needlesbug which yielded the important broodmare T.C. Kitten, she the granddam of Hold That Tiger, Hennessy and Editor's Note among others.